1. Homepage
  2. Skiing & Winter
  3. Winter Openings

Winter openings in Austria: Season starts and events

Two skiers on a groomed slope with snow-covered mountain range and valley in the background, blue sky.
Austria's ski resorts are gearing up for the 2026/27 season: first turns on the glacier, winter openings with concerts, and season start dates for every province.

First lift rides, crisp mountain air, freshly groomed pistes, sweeping views. Winter in Austria is back!

Skiing doesn't begin everywhere at the same time, though. On the glaciers in Tirol, SalzburgerLand and Carinthia, you can make your first turns as early as autumn. Most ski resorts open for the winter season between late November and mid-December, depending on snow and weather.

And then the fun begins. At winter openings in places like Ischgl, Saalbach-Hinterglemm and Schladming, concerts and festivals are part of the season's start. Elsewhere things are quieter – but the feeling of winter in Austria is the same wherever you are.

Please note:

The list shows season start dates and selected events by province. Not all dates for the 2026/27 winter season have been confirmed yet – we'll add them as they come in.

Weather and snow conditions can shift dates at short notice, so check the ski resort's or mountain railway's website before you travel. Your local tourist board can also provide up-to-date information.

Lower Austria

Annaberg
5 December 2026

Hochkar
4 December 2026, start of season*

Lackenhof am Ötscher
5 December 2026, start of season*

Mönichkirchen-Mariensee
5 December 2026

Puchberg am Schneeberg
no opening date known yet

Semmering
no opening date known yet

St. Corona am Wechsel
no opening date known yet

*with sufficient snow conditions

Operating times in Lower Austria

Upper Austria

Dachstein-West/Gosau
4 December 2026, start of season

Feuerkogel/Ebensee
12 December 2026, start of season

Hinterstoder/Pyhrn Priel
28 November 2026, start of season

Hochficht/Böhmerwald
no opening date known yet

Krippenstein Dachstein/Obertraun
19 December 2026, start of season

Wurzeralm/Spital am Pyhrn Priel
8 December 2026, start of season*

*with sufficient snow conditions

Operating hours in Upper Austria

Carinthia

Ankogel - Mallnitz
no opening date known yet

Bad Kleinkirchheim
4 December 2026

Falkert/Heidi Alm
no opening date known yet

Gerlitzen Alpe
no opening date known yet

Goldeck
no opening date known yet

Heiligenblut am Grossglockner
18 December 2026

Hochrindl
no opening date known yet

Katschberg
4 December 2026

Klippitztörl
5 December 2026, start of season*

Mölltal Glacier
from October 2026 (depending on snow conditions)

Nassfeld
4 December 2026, snow-permitting

Turracher Höhe
no opening date known yet

*with sufficient snow conditions

Operating times in Carinthia

Styria

Die Tauplitz / Ausseerland - Salzkammergut
28 November 2026, start of season

Reiteralm & Fageralm / Schladming

Hauser Kaibling
snow-permitting in November 2026

Kreischberg / Murau
4 December 2026

Schladming-Dachstein region
11 and 12 December 2026, Ski-Opening Schladming 2026 with Helene Fischer
Galsterberg
4 December 2026
Planai & Hochwurzen
4 December 2026 (Hochwurzen)

Ski Ramsau / Rittisberg
4 December 2026

Schönberg-Lachtal
no opening date known yet

Stuhleck – Spital am Semmering
no opening date known yet

Turracher Höhe
no opening date known yet

Operating times in Styria

SalzburgerLand

Abtenau/ Karkogel & Sonnleitn
no opening date known yet

Bramberg & Neunkirchen/ Wildkogel Arena
5 December 2026, start of season

Filzmoos
no opening date known yet

Gasteinertal
4 December 2026, Skischaukel Dorfgastein-Großarltal
11 December 2026, partial opening Skischaukel Schlossalm-Angertal-Stubnerkogel
18 December 2026, Sportgastein ski area

Grossarltal
no opening date known yet

Hochkönig
5 December 2026

Lungau SkiLungau

Mittersill - Hollersbach - Stuhlfelden/ Kitz Ski
no opening date known yet

Obertauern
27 November - 8 December 2026, Ski opening week 2026 with 'Die Fantastischen Vier' and 'Anastacia'

Raurisertal
16 December 2026, start of the season

Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn
27 November 2026, start of season with partial operation
3 - 6 December 2026, BERGFESTival
10 - 13 December 2026, Rave on Snow Festival

Snow Space Salzburg (Flachau/St. Johann/Wagrain)
28 November 2026, start of season (snow permitting)

Werfenweng
no opening date known yet

Zell am See - Kaprun

Zillertal Arena: Wald-Königsleiten, Krimml
4 December 2026, start of season

Operating hours in SalzburgerLand

Tirol

Ski Juwel Alpbachtal - Wildschönau
4 December 2026, start of partial operation

Innsbruck and surroundings

Kaunertal Glacier
26 September 2026

Kitzbühel
21 November 2026, partial opening/weekends

Nauders
11 December 2026

East Tirol

Ötztal

Pitztal

Seefeld
no opening date known yet

Serfaus-Fiss-Ladis
4 December 2026, start of season with partial operations
full operations from 19 December 2026

Skicircus: Fieberbrunn
27 November 2026

SkiWelt Wilder Kaiser - Brixental
5 December 2026

St. Anton am Arlberg
2 December 2026
4 - 6 December 2026 Stanton Ski Open

St. Johann in Tirol
4 December 2026

Paznaun – Ischgl

Stubaital

Tiroler Zugspitzarena
18 December 2026

Zillertal

Top events at the start of winter in Tirol

Operating times in Tirol

Vorarlberg

Lech Zürs/Arlberg
2 December 2026

Bregenzerwald

Montafon

Großes Walsertal

*depending on snow conditions

Operating times in Vorarlberg

Winter opening events

Ski Opening Week

27-11-2026 – 8-12-2026
Obertauern

Ski Opening Week brings two evenings of concerts to Obertauern: Die Fantastischen Vier will perform on 28 November, followed by Anastacia on 4 December 2026.

Learn more

Top of the Mountain Opening Concert

28-11-2026
Ischgl

To kick off the winter season, skiing on the first weekend of winter is combined with live music on the Idalp. The focus is on a concert atmosphere on the mountain and the first days on the slopes.

Learn more

BERGFESTival

3-12-2026 – 6-12-2026
Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn

This festival brings together the ski season opener, an open-air rock festival and club gigs. Bands and live acts mark the start of winter with concerts on stages across the ski resort and in the village.

Learn more

Stanton Ski Open

4-12-2026 – 6-12-2026
St. Anton am Arlberg

Ski and snowboard trials, music on three stages, food trucks and free entry to the festival site are all part of the winter weekend programme.

Learn more

Rave on Snow

10-12-2026 – 13-12-2026
Skicircus Saalbach Hinterglemm Leogang Fieberbrunn

For four days, it’s all about electronic music, winter sports and nightlife. With more than 60 artists performing across 13 stages and over 50 hours of music, the festival is the place to be for the club scene.

Learn more

Ski-Opening Schladming-Dachstein

11-12-2026 – 12-12-2026
Region Schladming-Dachstein

Helene Fischer will be performing on stage at the Planai Stadium on two evenings. Live music and winter sports provide the backdrop for the start of the season on the Planai.

Learn more

Hochzeiger Openair

12-12-2026
Hochzeiger Pitztal

Sportfreunde Stiller are kicking off the ski season with a concert at an altitude of 2,000 metres. Admission is granted on presentation of a valid cable car ticket.

Learn more

FAQ

A winter opening marks the start of the ski season at a resort. In some places, the first lifts simply start running; elsewhere there are concerts, festivals or equipment test days too. These events are often called ski openings.

On the glaciers, the ski season begins from late September. Most ski resorts open between late November and mid-December, depending on snow and weather.

With partial operation, only some lifts and pistes are open. Weekend operation means the lifts run on Saturdays and Sundays only. Continuous operation means the resort is open daily.

Yes. Many concerts take place in the valley, so you can get there without ski gear. For events up on the mountain, you'll need a mountain railway ticket. At some openings, your ski pass or mountain railway ticket also serves as your concert ticket; at others you'll need a separate one. It's worth checking the resort's or festival's website in advance.

Misschien ook interessant voor jou

Ontdek het beste van Oostenrijk

Abonneer je nu op onze nieuwsbrief voor exclusieve aanbiedingen en tips:

  • Insider tips voor jouw volgende vakantie

  • Culinaire hoogtepuntjes en recepten

  • Op de hoogte van de meest unieke evenementen

  • Actueel reisaanbod en specials